Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-30
LUCKY ARE THE CLERGY.


Treatment Of Passengers in
the Matter Of Fares Rough on the
scaIpers--The Ministers Only shown
Consideration.
Agent Holmes, of the c., NJ. & St. P,
has received important instructions from
General Passenger Agent Carpenter OF
the great road, in reference to passenger
rates under the new interstate commerce
law. 1t is explicit and direct in its ex
PLANTATION and instructions, and makes
these provisions:
LIST. Under no circumstances must a
ticket, either local or coupo2, be sold at
greater rate for short trip than a
long trip over the same line. Agents
will stop using any rates that are not 10
conformity with the long and short haul
principle.
Cd No discrimination must be made
in favor of any person or party except
to ministers of religion. This abolishes
every form of reduced rate with the ex-
ception Of half fare to clergymen and
children of Eve and under twelve years
of age. 1t does away with theatrical
rates, halt fare rates with the above ex>
ceptions, student rates, labor rates,
land exploring rates, local round trip
rates-all rates except regular local
rates.
3D. Any violation of the law subjects
not only the company to penalty not
exceeding s. 600 for each offense, hut
fixes the responsj bility for such violation
upon the employe who disregsrds the
law. Mr. Carpenter says he cannot too
strongly impress upon the agents the i'm
perstive necessity of obeying the law as
explained herein" Half fare per
mits will only Do honored when held
by regularly ordained clergymen. "Those
in the hands of sisters of charity or
others must not be honored, but should
be taken up and returned to me-"
No theatrical tickets will be sold for
less than regular local rates, and theatri>
cal tickets presented must be taken up
and returned to general agents. Not
more than $50 pounds of baggage can be
checked for any passenger unless for a
holder of commercial mileage or excess
baggage sold prior to March 4, 1887
The 200 pounds of free baggage will be
| allowed until they are used up.
The law requires that every common
carrier shall plainly print, in large type,
of at least the size of ordinary plea,
and keep for public inspection in every
depot or station in such form that they
| can be conveniently inspected, schedules
showing the rates OF fare for the trans
portatlon of passengers aud property
Including baggage which are in force
upon its railroads, plainly stating the
places on the railroad between which
passengers will be carried And ten DAYS
notice is required for any change.
In short, mo rate must be used for
anyone except clergyman who holds 8
permit, which is not regular tariff rate
open to any person at any time, ant
agents are expected to assist as much q,
possible in regaining possession of any
permits orders or that may be IN existence
conflicting with this.
No agent of the company will be
| permitted to divide his salary, or any
commission which he may receive, with
| any ticket broker or other person, for the
purpose of controlling any passenger
business. Such act is clear violation OF
! the law" And then. too, Ticket agents
will not be permitted to sell tickets to
! any person on credit, but will require
cash down at the time of the sale of every
ticket, and every ticket which, By its
/ conditions is subject to the signature OF
the passenger, must be signed by the
! latter in the presence of the ticke: agent,
or some Authorized agent of the com
pany."